Ash handling device



July 13, i943. c. H.'w|| Erm. 2,323,884

l SH HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 13, 1943.|--il w|| 1 ET AL 2,323,884

ASH HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 13,1943 asu HANDLING nevica Carl H. Will, Winnetka, and Benjamin F. Monroe,Chicago, Ill.. assignors to Tropic-Aire, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Del- Application May 3, 1940, Serial No. 333,106

(Cl. 20S-19.5)

14 Claims.

cleaning by boiling. yAnother object isY to provide a device which has atray emptying into a dump` Y` ing receptacle, which receptacle can bemoved to dumping position and which has latchingfme'ans so placed thatit is not likely to be tampered with by unauthorized persons, such aspassengerswho to amuse themselves undertake to discover just how thedevice is made and how it can be opened.

In an attempt to avoid unauthorized or accidental unlatching and openingof the dump recepl tacle, the present invention provides an arrangementby which, when the tray is in openzposition,

that is, in receiving position', the latching means is hidden. Only whenthe tray is moved to a certain predetermined position in dumpingdirection is said release means made accessible to those who know itsposition. The device further requires that after the release means isrendered' accessible by a certain predetermined amountvof motion of thetray in dumping' direction, and

after release has been accomplished, lthe tray;l must again be moved inthe same direction to permit completion of the motion of the receptacleto dumping position. After release of the latch.

the receptacle can start its movement .toward dumping position, butcannot 'complete that movement until a further movement of the tray inthe same direction is made to release a second stop provided by means onthe walls oi the receptacles.

It is further desirable, and may be considered an object, to so placethe .release means that ,it

is on that side nearest the user when thev device is applied, forexample, to 'the outer wall of a vehicle between two seats. To carry outthis scheme the devices would be made in rights and lefts and, althoughthis may be advisable in some is limited to this feature. t

Another object vofthe inventionis to utilizeithe dump receptacle as anornament, sorelated to the other parts of the vreceptacle that itextends beyond and covers those parts, andV thus the outer margins ofsaid dump receptacle may engagethe support to form a neat, substantiallyjointless iit therewith.

Objects, featuresv and advantages of -thevinven- .45 instances, itis notconsidered that the invention "described, and its. open side Il!ab isopposed to tion will appear in the description of the drawings forming apart of this specifi-cation, and in said drawings- Figure 1 is a irontView of the device applied to a `support a-nd with the tray in receivingposition;

Figure.2 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 2 2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3,-3 of Figure l but with thetray Vmoved sufficiently in dumping direction to permit access to themeans which releasably secures the dump receptacle in receivingposition;

Figure 4 is a vertical section similar to Figure 3 showing thevdumpreceptacle unlatched and moved part way toward dumping position butheld by the tray from complete movement to that position until the trayis additionally moved in the same direction to release the dumpreceptacle;

Figure 5 is a vertical section showing the receptacle in dumpingposition;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 5 6 of Figure 2 Figure '7 is ahorizontal section on line 1--1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of Figure 3; and t Figure 9isa vertical section showing how the rear wall of the dump receptacleengages the forward edge of the tray when moving to receiving position.

In the drawings, the numeral l indicates a support having a recess 2which receives the inner or base section 4, herein pan-shaped andmarginally flanged. Hinged to the base in a manner to be described indetail is an outer or dumping receptacle 5 which acts as an ornamentalclosure. The hinge is so arranged that the receptacle can swingoutwardly and downwardly to the dumping position of Figure 5t. Thisdumping receptacle 5 is herein composed of aA front casing sectionproviding a frontvvall 6 having an opening l through which opening ashescan be deposited in a tray IIJ having the general form'oi a segment of acylinder with closed ends kl I.

The ends Il (see Figure 6) have openings I3 with which are engagedtrunnions l2 of resilient arms l extending outwardly from the base. Thetray Il] is removably held in a manner to be and registers with theopening 'l in the front wall 6 of the receptacle, when both receptacleand tray are in receiving position. A front edge of the cylindrical wallof the tray engages with the front wall of the receptacle when the partsare in the aforesaid position, and suitable means (to be described.)yieldably holds the tray in and automatically moves it to receivingposition. It will be seen Jthat the tray when rotated dumps into thereceptacle 5.

Manually releasable means is provided for securing the dump receptaclein receiving position and in this instance comprises an arm |5 pivotedas at l5 within the base as shown. A spring I'l yieldably holds alatching shoulder of the arm in latching relation with (see Figure 7)one flange |8 of a pair, which anges are carried by a rear wall andbottom-forming member 29. The member B has two of these anges I9, one ateach opposite margin with which the flanges I8 overlap, and the rearwall and bottom-forming member 28 of the receptacle 5 is detachablysecured to these flanges I9 by screws as shown. The arm I5 has a curvedbottom surface which cams against the edges of the flanges to raise thelatch arm as the receptacle 5 is closed.

The bottom 2| of this member 20 has a forward, upturned portion 22 whichlies against the inner side of the front wall 6 of the receptacle. Thisrear wall and bottom-forming portion 2G lies within or is received bythe pan-like base 4 when the dump receptacle is in receiving position,and when in receiving position the rear wall of member enga-ges orsubstantially engages the rear wall of the pan or base.

It will be noted that one end of the tray acts as means, so related tothe releasable means, in this instance arm l5, as to prevent accessthereto or sight thereof, until the tray has moved in dumping directionto a predetermined position. The latching device can be viewed, but noteasily, only when the tray is moved part of the way towards dumpingposition, and when this has occurred the finger may be introducedthrough ashreceiving opening in the front of the receptacle 5.

This arrangement tends to discourage tampering by passengers who areprone, out of curiosity, to nger any device which they can see. By thisinvention the means for releasing the dump receptacle cannot be seenwhen the tray is Vin receiving position, and when the latch is placed onthat side nearest the passenger, is not noticeable when the tray isdumped and, moreover, when the tray has been moved in dumping directionto a position at which the latch is accessible, the parts are soarranged that the latch is not easily seen.

As before stated, the ash tray has the form of a segment of a cylinderin which part of the cylindrical wall is removed to provide an openfront for the tray, which opening registers with the ash-receivingopening of the receptacle 5.

It will be seen in Figure 4 that after the locking means has beenreleased and after the receptacle has moved part way toward dumpingposition, a portion of the tray continues to remain in the path of therear wall of the receptacle so that said receptacle cannot be moved tofull dumping position until the tray has moved in dumping directionbeyond that predetermined position required to make said releasablemeans accessible for release.

It is noted that before the attendant or service man attempts to releasethe latch he may dump the contents of the tray into the receptacle, thenlet the tray return and then move it again in dumping direction. Thisis, however, not necessary because the tray is necessarily dumped as itis moved to that position which permits access to the latch. As beforestated, it is necessary to move the tray farther in dumping direction tobring the cylindrical wall of the tray out of the path of the back wallof the receptacle, whereafter the receptacle can be moved to its fulldumping position as shown in Figure 5.

Before describing certain details of the construction which are claimed,along with the broader ideas of means, it may be said that, broadlyspeaking, a device is provided v. hich requires manual release of thedump receptacle for dumping, but in which that release cannot beaccomplished until the tray is dumped, that is, the act of dumping givesaccess. Another feature is that even after release occurs full movementof the receptacle to dumping position cannot take place until the trayis again moved forwardly in the same direction, that is, in dumpingdirection, after its preliminary movement to give access for release ofthe latch.

In devices of this kind it is desirable that the ash tray and dumpingreceptacle be removable for washing or boiling. to get rid of thewellknown tarry odors associated with all tobaccoash receptacles.

To this end the tray is mounted on trunnions as previously described,each of which engages a corresponding opening I3 of a wall I. The armsare made of spring material and extend outwardly from the base as shown.When either arm I4 is sprung outwardly, its trunnion is released fromits opening and the tray can be so manipulated as to remove the oppositetrunnion from the corresponding opening. in the opposite end of thetray. When two spring arms are used they may be simultaneously sprung torelease the trunnions.

A small coil spring 25 (see Figures 2 and 6) is arranged'around asupport 26 which immovably holds the trunnion I2 of one side and thisspring acts to normally hold the tray in receiving position and inproper relation with the ash-receiving opening of the receptacle. A pin21 with which one end of this spring is engaged also engages the bearingarm |4 to act as a stop to limit rearward movement of the tray.

It may be noted again that the horizontal cross-sectional configurationof the receptacle is such that a portion of it, member 20, enters thepan-shaped base 4, and another portion 6 overlaps the base and extendstherebeyond in opposition to the panel or wall I in which the base isset. This not only permits the receptacle to be used as an ornamentalfinishing front, but increases the cubical capacity of the dumpreceptacle.

The device by which the dump receptacle is made detachable has thefollowing structure: Referring to Figures 3 and 8; from the bottom ofthe base 4 extend a pair of spaced arms 30, each of which is curvedrearwardly and upwardly to provide a terminal bearing portion 3| formedby a substantially U-shaped bend, the bearing being thus open at thetop. On the bottom of the dump receptacle is a U-shaped bracketproviding a pair of spaced arms 32. Each arm has an opening forreceiving a rod 34. It is noted that this bracket is carried by theremovable back and bot- Vtomforming part 20 of the receptacle, and isremovable with that part. This rod rits in the open-top bearings 3| anda spring 35 carried by the base is so shaped and so acts as to urge therod toward and hold it in the bearings 3|. To disengage the bar, andtherefore disconnect the receptacle 5, the receptacle is brought to ahorizontal position and then the hinging end is moved upwardly and thenthe-entire receptacle is moved rearwardly or toward the base, wherebythe spring 35 is put under greater tension and the bar is released fromthe bearings. 1n assembling the device the bar is placed below thebearing and engaged with the spring 35, and then the receptacle(horizontally disposed) is moved rearwardly against the action of thespring until the bar passes rearwardly of the bearings and then the rearend of the receptacle is moved upwardly, still against the action of thespring, and as soon as the rod has risen to the top of the bearings thespring pushes it forwardly and downwardly into the bearings. This simpledetachable hinging device is one form of means by which the lowerreceptacle may be easily detached for cleaning.

Although all details of construction shown in the drawings herein areclaimed, yet certain phases of the invention are broader than thosedetails. I believe it broadly new to provide a device in which there aretw-o receptacles, one dumping into the other, and in which one of thereceptacles is releasably held and in which a part carried by or forminga wall of the other receptacle( when in receiving position) hides thatmeans or renders it inaccessible except when the latter receptacle ismoved to a predetermined position. I also believe it is new to have arst receptacle prevent the full -opening movement of the secondreceptacle to dumping position until the rst mentioned receptacle ismoved in dumping direction to a predetermined position.

The means for locking one of the receptacles and the means forpreventing access Uo that locking means may be varied. Also the means bywhich one receptacle prevents full dumping movement of the other untilthat receptacle has been brought to a predetermined position, is broaderthan the means herein by which the wall of one receptacle acts as a stopin the path of a wall of the other, until that predetermined movementhas been made. However, this detail is also bef lieved to be new.

We-claim as our invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a base section, a dumpingreceptacle having a front wall, means connecting the receptacle to thebase so that the former can move to dumping position, a segmentaltubular tray having end walls, and means pivoting the walls on the baseso that the tray is movable to dump into the receptacle, means carriedby the base for releasably holding the receptacle in receiving positionand exi tending within said dumping receptacle to a point adjacent itsfront wall and requiring a tool or the nger of the user for release,said dumping receptacle having an opening in its front wall forwardlythrough which a portion of said tray extends, and outwardly throughwhich the tray projects during its dumping movement, one of the endwalls of the tray when the tray is in receiving position being disposedto prevent access to said releasable means until the tray has been moveda Substantial distance in dumping direction.

2. A device of the class described having a trayis normally opposed to.said opening to receive ashes and adapted when rotated to dump into thereceptacle, said tray having a portion extending through said opening tobe engaged by the iinger of a user to dump the tray, latching means forreleasably holding the receptacle in receiving position and disposedlaterally of an end wall of the tray and extending forwardly from theliner into the casing .to a point near its iront wall, and onlyaccessible through said opening to be directly moved by a finger torelease the receptacle for dumping, after the tray has Vbeen moved indumping direction.

3. In combination with a support having a recess therein, a pan-likeliner within the recess', a hollow finishing casing closing andextending beyond said recess on all sides Aand Ihaving margins engagingthe outer .surfaces of the support and having a front wall having anopening therein substantially equal to the width ofthe recess, saidcasing having secured thereto a section which normally lies within therecess and which forms with the casing` a receptacle,'means pivoting thecasing to the liner to swingl downwardly, a tray of segmental tubularconfiguration having end walls, said tray pivoted to said liner forrotation on a horizontal axis and normally opposed to said opening andadapted when rotated to dump into the receptacle, said tray having aportion extending forwardly through said opening to be engaged by thelinger of a user to ,dump the tray, said tray being adapted to passoutwardly thro-ugh the opening when dumped and having a part engageablewith the finishing casing and receptacle to limit its range of motion inboth directions, means pivoting said receptacle to the liner to swingdownwardly to dumping position, a spring for moving the tray to andholding the same in receiving position, latching means carried by theliner and releasably holding the receptacle in receiving position anddisposed laterally of an end Wall of the tray and which must be directlymoved by the user to release the receptacle for dumping, the walls ofsaid tray being so disposed in relation to the latching means and to theopening of the front wall that the tray must be moved a predetermineddistance in dumping direction to allow access for release of saidlatching means by the user.

4. A device of the class described comprising a base section, a dumpingreceptacle, mea-ns releasably hinging the receptacle to the base so thatthe former can swing outwardly and downwardly to dumping position, asegmental tubular tray and means mounting it on the base to be movableto dump into the receptacle, and means releasably mounting the tray,including bearing arms at opposite ends of the tray and extendingoutwardly from the base section and into the dumping receptacle, .atleast one of the arms being yieldable in an axial direction to allowremoval of the tray.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a base section, a dumpreceptacle having a front wall having an opening, means connecting thereceptacle to the base so that the former can move to dumping position,a tray having ends and means mounting the tray on the base to be movablein the opening, a catch on the base releasably holding the dumpreceptacle in receiving position and arranged near said front wall andso that when the tray is in receiving position an end wall thereofprevents sight of and access to the catch, said tray being so disposedin relation to the catch and the opening that it .rn-ust :be

moved to a predetermined distance in dumping direction to allow accessfor release of the catch by means passed through the opening.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a base section, a dumpreceptacle having a front wall having an opening, means connecting thereceptacle to the base so that the former can move to dumping position,a segmental tubular tray having end walls, and means pivoting the endwalls on the base to be partly disposed within and movable through theopening as it moves to dumping position, a catch on the base arrangedlaterally of an end wall of the tray so that when the tray is inreceiving position an end wall of the tray prevents sight of and accessto the catch, said catch acting to releasably hold the receptacle inreceiving position, said tray being so disposed in relation to the catchand the opening that it must be moved a predetermined distance indumping direction to allow access for release of the catch by passingthe finger through the opening, said tray having a portion engageable bya portion of the dumping receptacle to prevent full opening of thatreceptacle following release of the catch, unless said tray has beenmoved substantially to full dumping position.

'7. In combination with a support having a ree cess having a hollow basemember fitted therein, a dumping receptacle pivoted to the base andhaving a front wall, said front wall having an opening at its top andbeing hinged to the base section so that it can swing downwardly todumping position, a segmental tubular tray and means pivoting it to thebase section, so that said tray has a portion passing through theopening and so that said tray is adapted to move within said openingwhen moved to dump into the receptacle, and latching means pivoted onthe base section disposed at a point laterally of the tray and adaptedto hold the dumping receptacle in receiving position, said latchingmeans extending forwardly to a point near the front wall of the dumpingreceptacle and only being engageable for release by the passage of atool or nger through said opening, after said tray has been partly movedin dumping direction.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a base section, a dumpingreceptacle, means releasably hinging the receptacle to the base so thatthe former can be swung to dumping position, a i

segmental tubular tray having end walls and means pivotally mounting iton the base to rotate about its tubular axis and so that it can dumpinto the receptacle, a latch pivoted to the base and lying laterally ofand near one end of the tray and normally latching the dumpingreceptacle in receiving position, said dumping receptacle having anopening in its front wall and the forward end of said latch being nearsaid opening and front wall to be accessible by a nger passed throughthe opening, and said tray when in receiving position preventing accessto said latch through said opening, and having a portion extendingthrough said opening and engaging the outer side oi the front face ofthe receptacle, said tray and receptacle having means cooperable toprevent motion of the receptacle to full dumping position after releaseof the latch until after the tray has again been moved in dumpingdirection beyond that predetermined position required to make saidreleasable means accessible.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow base section, adump receptacle having a front wall which completely closes and extendsbeyond the base section, means connecting the receptacle to the base sothat the former can move to dumping position, a segmental tubular trayhaving end walls and means mounting it on the base to rotate on itstubular axis and to dump into the receptacle, and a catch on thebasearranged laterally of one end wall of the tray and pivoted to thebase and adapted to hold the receptacle in receiving position, the frontwall of said receptacle having an opening through which the finger ispassed to release the catch, and an end wall of the tray being sodisposed as to act to hide and prevent access to the catch until thetray has been moved in dumping direction.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow base section, adumping receptacle having a one-piece hollow front wall having anopening, a tray comprising a closed-end hollow segment of a cylinder andmeans mounting the tray on the hollow base to rotate on a horizontalaxis which coincides with the axis of the cylinder, said tray having acylindrical wall portion which projects through the opening of the wall,and said wall having an opening adapted to be opposed to the opening inthe front wall, a latch pivoted to said base section and normallyengaging a part of said dumping receptacle to hold it in receivingposition, said latch being arranged laterally of an end wall of saidtray and a part of the cylindrical wall of the tray and said end actingto prevent access for release of said latch when the tray is in initialreceiving position, and permitting such access for release by a ngerwhich has passed through said front wall opening, after the tray hasbeen rotated in dumping direction.

11. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow base section, adumping receptacle having a one-piece hollow front wall, having anopening, a tray comprising a closed end segment of a cylinder and meansmounting the tray on the hollow base to rotate on a horizontal axiswhich coincides with the axis of the cylinder, said tray having acylindrical wall portion part of which projects through the opening ofthe wall, a latch pivoted to said base section and releasably holdingthe receptacle in receiving position, and means journaling saidreceptacle for quick release, including arms on the base, each having anopen bearing and a rod on the receptacle engageable with said bearings,and a spring engageable by said rod before and during engage ment bysaid rod with said bearings and adapted to yieldably, releasably securesaid rod within the bearings for rotation therein, and said base havingforwardly extending elements, said elements and tray having meanspivoting said tray to the elements, said pivoting means being quicklyreleasable by moving at least one of the elements in a direction axiallyof the pivoting means.

12. A device of the class described, comprising an open-front casingadapted to be set into a wall, a dumping receptacle having a front walladapted to close the casing, said front wall having an opening, meanspivoting the receptacle to the casing to swing to dumping position, anash tray having end walls and a tubular wall having an opening initiallyopposed to the opening of the receptacle, means pivoting the tray torotate about the axis of its tubular wall in a manner to have the traydump into the receptacle and to have a portion of said tray extendthrough said opening, said tray being adapted to move in said openingduring dumping, latching means carried by said casing and receptacle,said means being disposed laterally of an end wall of said tray, a-`part of the tubular Wall of said tray and said end Wall acting toprevent access for release of said latch when the tray is in an initialreceiving position, and permitting such access through said receptacleopening for release by a tool or by the users nger, after the tray hasbeen moved in dumping direction.

13. A device of the class described, comprising an open-front casingadapted to be set into a Wall, a dumping receptacle having a front Walladapted to close the casing, said front Wall having an opening, meanspivoting the receptacle to the casing to swing to dumping position, anash tray having end Walls and a tubular wall having an opening normallyopposed to the opening of the receptacle, means pivoting the end Wallsof said tray to the casing in a manner to have the tray dump into thereceptacle and to have a portion of said tray extend through saidopening, said tray being adapted to move in said opening during dumping,a latch carried by said casing, means on said receptacle releasablyengaged by the latch to hold the receptacle in receiving position, saidlatch being disposed between an end wall of said tray and a side Wall ofthe casing, the relations vof the said end Wall to the latch and of theend Wall and latch to the opening of the receptacle being such that onlywhen the tray is moved from its initial position in dumping directioncan access be had through said receptacle opening by a tool or the usersfinger to release the latch.

14. A device of the class described, comprising a base and a dumpreceptacle, hook-Shaped means extending from the base, pin means on thereceptacle, and resilient means normally urging the pin means toward thebight of the hook means to releasably secure the pin means therein, andan ash tray and bearings on said base journaling it to move from areceiving to a dumping position, at Which latter position it deliversinto said dump receptacle.

CARL H. WILL. BENJAMIN F, MONROE.

